Shannon Morrison enters his first season on the University of Cincinnati football staff coaching the cornerbacks.

Morrison joined the Bearcats during the spring of 2012 following a short stint as the defensive coordinator at the College of Holy Cross. Prior to his time with the Crusaders, Morrison spent two seasons coaching the cornerbacks at the University of Memphis.

The 16-year coaching veteran has been the defensive coordinator at five different schools, including Holy Cross (2012), Bowling Green (2009), Lehigh (2004), Southeast Missouri State (2001-2003) and Hampden-Sydney (1998-1999).

During his time at Memphis, Morrison worked with the cornerbacks and nicklebacks, developing a number of true freshmen into consistent starters, including Mohammed Selsay, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2010.

While at Bowling Green in 2009, Morrison was the co-defensive coordinator and coached the safeties. The Falcons finished the 2009 season with a 7-6 record after dropping a hard-fought 43-42 decision to Idaho in the Humanitarian Bowl. BGSU ranked first in the Mid-American Conference in pass defense, allowing just 204 yards a game. In 2009 alone his pass defense allowed less than 200 yards on six different occasions, highlighted by an effort versus Marshall where the defense allowed just 100 yards through the air.

Prior to the 2009 campaign, Morrison spent four seasons (2005-08) at his alma mater, Marshall, where he coached linebackers (2005-06) and safeties (2007-08). He tutored junior safety C.J. Spillman in 2007, as he recorded a team-high 131 tackles en route to earning second team All-Conference USA honors.

In 2005, Morrison oversaw a Thundering Herd linebacking corps which featured two of C-USA's top tacklers in juniors Dennis Thornton (104) and Matt Couch (97). The linebackers also helped the MU defense limit opponents to a league best 340.27 yards per game. During the 2006 season, Morrison coached linebacker Matt Couch to second team all-conference honors and linebacker Josh Johnson to honorable mention accolades.

Morrison was a four-time letterwinner at Marshall and was an All-Southern Conference and honorable mention All-America selection for the Herd in 1994. During his Marshall career, he intercepted 11 passes and is still sixth on the Thundering Herd's all-time interceptions list. He also helped Marshall to its first-ever national title in 1992.

The Oak Hill, W.Va., native graduated from Marshall in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Morrison spent the 2004 season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lehigh University. Under Morrison's guidance, the Lehigh defense led the Patriot League in scoring defense and fewest yards allowed per game. Lehigh captured a share of its seventh Patriot League title in 2004, and the Mountain Hawks earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

Prior to Lehigh, Morrison was the defensive coordinator at Southeast Missouri State for three years. During the 2003 season, Morrison's Indians led the Ohio Valley Conference in pass defense and ranked third in total defense. Southeast Missouri also ranked seventh nationally in turnovers forced.